Attachment for envelope handling machine



Nov. 21, 1967 B. LARSON ATTACHMENT FOR ENVELOPE HANDLING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 27, 1965 I NVENTOR LESLIE B. LARSON BY M07198 ATTORNEYS Nov. 21, 1967 L. B. LARSON 3,353,461

ATTACHMENT FOR ENVELOPE HANDLING MACHINE Filed Dec. 27, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR LESLIE B. LARSON ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,353,461 ATTACHMENT FOR ENVELOPE HANDLING MACHINE Leslie B. Larson, 2306 N. Janssen Ave, Chicago, Ill. 60614 Filed Dec. 27, 1965, Ser. No. 516,382 2 Claims. (Cl. 9362) The present invention relates generally to attachments for an envelope handling machine, particularly an attachment wherein the envelope is reversed in its direction of travel so as to fold the envelope flaps reversely upon the front of envelope. Specifically, the present invention is directed towards important improvements in US. Patent No. 3,106,877, granted Oct. 15, 1963, and entitled Attachments for Envelope Handling Machine.

According to the present invention, complex parts and easily damaged moving parts are eliminated while providing for reversing the direction of travel of an envelope in a horizontal path of conveyance while retaining its flaps so as the envelope is reversed in travel its flap is folded back on its reverse side. Top and bottom driving belts are supported conventionally in a housing upon transverse rollers so that the abutting tangential portions of the belt define a path for horizontal conveyance of the envelope. This reversal of flow or travel is performed by supporting one belt roller vertically spaced beneath the horizontal path of conveyance and above the bottom belt so as to define a medial cul de sac. The retaining of the envelope flaps during vertical travel of the envelope body into and out of the cul de sac is by plural finger assemblies attached to a cam which is synchronized with the belt driving means. As the bottom of the envelope moves downwardly within cul de sac, contact is made with leaf spring elements mounted upon a bar assembly adjustable within the cul de sac for varying width envelopes. After the spring elements return the envelope upwardly within the cul de sac to the horizontal path of conveyance, the retained flap is reversely folded against the envelope body as the top of the envelope body leads through the path of conveyance.

A principal object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for reversely folding envelope flaps without employing complex parts.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for uninterruptedly handling a volume of envelopes while reversely folding their flaps.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for changing the direction of travel of an envelope during continuous conveyance.

Still a further object of the present invention involves the simplification of apparatus for reversely folding envelope flaps and eliminating unnecessary working parts while increasing the speed of operation.

Yet, additional objects of invention will become apparent from the ensuing specification and attached drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary, enlarged perspective view of the receiving end of machine, illustrating cam actuated and synchronized flap engaging fingers, together with bar assembly adjustable for envelopes of varying width;

FIG. 2 is a rear elevation view of the entire attachment, showing chain driving means engaging the driving rollers, and a delivery table 86 supported at the exit end;

FIG. 3 is a front schematic view showing travel of the envelope between top driving belt 94 and lower driving belt 96 defining the path of horizontal conveyance and into the cul de sac defined by rollers 82 vertically spaced from the path and engaging the top of lower driving belt 96;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged front elevation illustrating progressive steps of envelope movement through cul de sac ice aided by leaf spring elements 126 of adjustable bar assembly and FIG. 5 is a perspective view of adjustable bar assembly 110 together with leaf spring elements 126 and stop pins 128.

In FIG. 1, envelope handling machine attachment 10' is illustrated as comprising a rear plate 12 and front plate 14 which define a semi-circular housing. A rear chain drive means 16 (FIG. 2) is shown as engaging driving sprockets 82 which are attached in turn to a plurality of horizontal shafts upon which flanged pulleys 88 are attached for engaging the top and bottom driving belts. As illustrated in FIG. 3, an envelope 104 is presented between top driving belt 94 and lower driving belt 96 at point 50 and is thence conveyed by driving belts 52, 54, 56 and 5% through the path of horizontal conveyance in the housing. A cul de sac generally designated by the reference numeral 98 is provided medially of the horizontal path by the positioning of roller 82 vertically spaced beneath the general path of conveyance and engaging the top of belt 96.

Power is supplied by driving shaft 24 which has attached thereto flanged pulleys 44 and 46. Spur gear 38 attached to shaft 24- drives corresponding spur gears 39, 32 and 34 secured respectively to horizontal shafts 42, 45 and 47. Also attached to shaft 45 is sprocket 36 about which is encompassed chain 18 in turn driving cam 20 which is secured to shaft 22.

At the exit end of the housing sprocket 28 attached to shaft 60 is driven also by chain 16 and drives miter gears 26 to which may be attached envelope receiving imachinery, for example a counter or the like. Also, one or more envelope guide wires 62 may be supported transversely at the end of the housing for actuation by lever 6 Cam following arm 55 is positioned against cam 20 with rollers 76 and is connected to shaft 68 by means of link 67. Attached medially of shaft 68 by means of machine bolts 74 are the flap engaging fingers 72.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, bar assembly 116 is adjustably positioned within cul de sac 8 for upward and downward movement therein in accordance with width of envelope. In particular, as shown in H6. 5, adjustable bar assembly 110 includes a rectangular bar 112 terminating at each end in dowels 1114 designed for insertion within openings 116 of end blocks 118 which rest against the surfaces of rear and front plates 12 and 14, respectively. Blocks 118 are, in turn, provided with openings 120 which encompass selected pairs of dowels 122 mounted verticaL ly along front and rear plates 12 and 14, thus permitting bar assembly 110 to be raised or lowered within cul de sac as. Of course, any desired structural arrangement may be employed to provide for the vertical adjustability of bar assembly 110.

Mounted on the top of adjustable bar assembly 110 with screws 124 are leaf springs 126. Spaced approximately one-quarter inch below springs 126 along bar 112 are pins 128, approximately one-eighth inch in diameter.

A plurality of feeder and guide bars 48 may be transversely positioned throughout the apparatus.

During operation, as cam 20 is caused to rotate, cam fingers '72 are reciprocably pivoted into and out of contact with roller 48 at the entry of cul de sac 8.

As envelope 164 is conveyed body bottom leading to the entry edge of cul de sac 98 the envelope is urged by fingers 72 downwardly into cul de sac 98 body bottom leading. Simultaneously, fingers 72 press and retain trailing envelope flap 1G2 against roller 48 as envelope 104 body bottom touches leaf springs 126. That is, an envelope 104 descends into cul de sac 98, it hits springs 126 which cushion the downward movement of envelope 104 while pins 128 limit spring movement to action approxi- 0 mately one-half inch down and up. As the envelope 104 continues, roller 48 feeds the envelope until roller )2 grabs hold. As illustrated in FIG. 4, top belts 94 hold envelope 104 reversing flap 102 on the top score. For varying width of envelope, bar assembly 110 may be adjusted up or down. Thus, the direction of travel of envelope 104 is eifectively reversed while flap 102 is folded backwardly of the envelope.

Manifestly, depending upon the side which the envelope is presented to the apparatus, the flap may be folded either reversely or conventionally on the back of the envelope. Envelope 1104 continues to travel through the path of conveyance and into delivery table 86 where conventional spirals may be employed for receiving the envelope in a conventional upstanding position. A counter (not illustrated) may be operated by a finger which engages the moving envelope and in turn moves a toothed sprocket operating the counting device.

In contrast with Patent 3,106,877, adjustable bar assembly 110 eliminates the necessity of utilizing complicated lifting arms actuatable by cam 22. In the present invention, adjustable bar assembly 110 functions entirely independently from operation of cam 20. In this manner, it is possible to eliminate unnecessary working parts and increase production to higher speeds. Simplicity of operation is also apparent as bar assembly 110 may be adjusted in accordance with envelope width merely by manual upward or downward movement, as desired. As will also be apparent, the 3,106,877 technique for actuating fingers 72 has also been greatly simplified.

Manifestly, various changes in driving members, positioning of belts and the like, may be employed without departing from the spirit and scope of invention, as defined in the sub-joined claims.

I claim:

1. An envelope handling machine, comprising:

(A) a housing;

(B) a plurality of rollers transversely supported in said housing;

(C) at least two belts supported on several of said rollers one above the other so that an abutting portion of the path of rotation defines a path for horizontal conveyance of envelopes;

(D) means driving said roller;

(E) a lower roller vertically spaced beneath said path for horizontal conveyance and engaging the top of the lower of said belts so as to define a cul de sac in said path for horizontal conveyance;

(F) finger means mounted for reciprocal movement into and out of said path against the roller nearest the entrance of said cul de sac, so as to retain an envelope flap against said roller as the envelope descends vertically into said cul de sac;

(G) cam means actuatable by said means for driving said rollers for directly moving said finger means;

(H) bar assembly means located within said cul de sac, said bar means adjustably mounted for upward and downward movement therein and leaf spring assemblies attached to the top of said bar assembly means for engaging contact with said envelope to lift same back into said path for said horizontal conveyance.

2. An envelope machine as in claim 1, including stop pins mounted upon said bar assembly below said leaf springs limiting spring movement, as desired.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,287,719 6/1942 Beasley 9362 XR 3,106,877 10/1963 Larson 9362 BERNARD STICKNEY, Primaly Examiner. 

1. AN ENVELOPE HANDLING MACHINE, COMPRISING: (A) A HOUSING; (B) A PLURALITY OF ROLLERS TRANSVERSELY SUPPORTED IN SAID HOUSING; (C) AT LEAST TWO BELTS SUPPORTED ON SEVERAL OF SAID ROLLERS ONE ABOVE THE OTHER SO THAT AN ABUTTING PORTION OF THE PATH OF ROTATION DEFINES A PATH FOR HORZONTAL CONVEYANCE OF ENVELOPES; (D) MEANS DRIVING SAID ROLLER; (E) A LOWER ROLLER VERTICALLY SPACED BENEATH SAID PATH FOR HORIZONTAL CONVEYANCE AND ENGAGING THE TOP OF THE LOWER OF SAID BELTS SO AS TO DEFINE A CUL DE SAC IN SAID PATH FOR HORIZONTAL CONVEYANCE; (F) FINGER MEANS MOUNTED FOR RECIPROCAL MOVEMENT INTO AND OUT OF SAID PATH AGAINST THE ROLLER NEAREST THE ENTRANCE OF SAID CUL DE SAC, SO AS TO RETAIN AN ENVELOPE FLAP AGAINST SAID ROLLER AS THE ENVELOPE DESCENDS VERTICALLY INTO SAID CUL DE SAC; (G) CAM MEANS ACTUATABLE BY SAID MEANS FOR DRIVING SAID ROLLERS FOR DIRECTLY MOVING SAID FINGER MEANS; (H) BAR ASSEMBLY MEANS LOCATED WITHIN SAID CUL DE SAC, SAID BAR MEANS ADJUSTABLY MOUNTED FOR UPWARD AND DOWNWARD MOVEMENT THEREIN AND LEAF SPRING ASSEMBLIES ATTACHED TO THE TOP OF SAID BAR ASSEMBLY MEANS FOR ENGAGING CONTACT WITH SAID ENVELOPE TO LIFT SAME BACK INTO SAID PATH FOR SAID HORIZONTAL CONVEYANCE. 